Postpartum is an opportunity for growth, learning, and rebirth—in every way. While it is an emotionally vulnerable time period, it is also such a potent time to trust your intuition and get comfortable in your power.
As with pregnancy and birth, postpartum id different for every mother. If you’ve recently given birth (congratulations!), your body is experiencing a lot. Hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, mood swings, and more. On top of feeling physically tender—particularly if you gave birth via C-section—you’re likely feeling everything from overwhelmed to teary and emotional. All of these things are normal. That said, knowledge is power. Be it your first or fourth baby, you should know what’s happening in your body and why. Without further ado, let’s dive into how your hormones change after birth, and most importantly, ways to support postpartum hormone balance.
What happens to your hormones after you give birth?
During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone rise. But once the placenta is removed after birth, these two hormones take a sharp dip. This is intentional, though! Estrogen and progesterone must drop in order for breastfeeding hormones—like prolactin and oxytocin—to do their job. That said, this dramatic shift may contribute to significant emotional swings.
If you’re feeling emotionless, sad, scared, and empty after giving birth, you’re not alone. If you’ve felt this way for more than a couple of weeks or months, contact your healthcare provider to make a sustainable action plan.
Endorphin rush
During labor, endorphins rise. They peak immediately after delivery and decline during postpartum. These high endorphin levels help women cope with the process of birth, aid in alertness, and even provide euphoric feelings after birth. However—like estrogen and progesterone—they fall in the first few postpartum days. They, too, may contribute to mood changes. Although the moving and shifting of estrogen, progesterone, prolactin, endorphins, etc. can be incredibly challenging, it’s normal to experience these changes in the first few weeks after delivery.
The baby blues
Inevitably, these hormonal fluctuations have an impact on emotional stability. The so-called “baby-blues”—where women can feel weepy, tearful, and overwhelmed—typically last for a few days (or up to 1-2 weeks). However, they can last significantly longer. If that’s the case, or they’re accompanied by anxiety, despair, or are preventing your from being able to complete daily tasks, it is important to seek evaluation for postpartum depression. Before we dive into postpartum hormone balance, let’s talk about postpartum physical changes.
Low estrogen during postpartum
Low estrogen levels—which stay low until you re-start your menstrual cycle, may last throughout the duration of breastfeeding. And low estrogen can contribute to postpartum hot flashes, pelvic floor dysfunction, vaginal dryness and low libido. Hair loss—or telogen effluvium—is another common postpartum symptom. It’s usually triggered 1-5 months after delivery. However, normal hair patterns are typically restored by 6-15 months after delivery. See here for postpartum hair loss nutrition tips.
signs of postpartum hormonal imbalance
Postpartum hormonal imbalance symptoms can include anxiety and depression, low libido, weight gain, cysts or fibroids, and chronic fatigue. That said, what determines whether or you’ll experience these symptoms? Ultimately, many different factors—such as baseline constitution of your health pre-pregnancy, gut microbiome, delivery method, breastfeeding, stress levels, diet and lifestyle, thyroid health, and genetics contribute to hormone health. If the symptoms you experience become severe and persist 3-6 months after you stop breastfeeding, reach out to your doctor.
Do you have PCOS? If so, you may need extra support to balance your hormones—let’s work together! Don’t underestimate the power of proper nutrition, sleep, leaning on your support team, and gentle forms of exercise.
4 Steps to postpartum hormone balance
In order to lessen the effects of postpartum hormonal fluctuations, here’s where to start:
1. proper Nutrition
Breastfeeding moms need around 500 extra calories (daily) to produce adequate breast milk. With that in mind, weight loss shouldn’t be a goal for the first 3-6 months after giving birth. With patience, balanced blood sugar, and moderate exercise, weight loss will come—naturally—over a period of time. Ultimately, focus on a diet that’s rich in high-quality protein (wild-caught fish, grass-fed beef, pastured eggs), healthy fats, fresh fruits and veggies, as well as nuts and seeds. Try to avoid high sugar and processed foods and instead focus on whole, mostly unprocessed foods: leafy greens, bone broth, avocados, and ghee. See here for the best foods to eat after giving birth. There’s no need to cut out entire food groups or count calories. Rather, it’s about the quality of your food over the quantity. Using supplements can be very helpful too. Work with your healthcare provider to support nutritional deficiencies.
2. Sleep
Sleep is crucial for everyone—pregnant, postpartum, or not! It’s especially important for balancing hormones and healing the body. But for obvious reasons, it’s the most challenging to prioritize. Nap when you can and enlist childcare support from friends, family members, or childcare providers. These tips for getting better sleep may help, too. It’s important to remember that sleep deprivation (and chronic stress) during the postpartum period can lead to sugar cravings, additional weight gain, and inflammation.
3. Lean on your support team
Your village wants to help you! If there’s ever a time to call in your support system, it’s right after you’ve given birth. Whether it’s talking to other new moms, joining a postpartum or breastfeeding support group, or sharing your postpartum journey with family members, it’s important to normalize postpartum highs and lows. Along with counseling, many women find that working with a postpartum doula to be very beneficial for speeding up their recovery time. In the very least, lean on friends and family members to help you with basic house chores, light cooking, etc. You’re not expected to do it all—especially in the early postpartum months. The more stress you can minimize, the easier it will be for your hormones to re-balance.
4. movement
Once you’re cleared to exercise, moving your body is extremely beneficial for your mental and physical wellbeing. Exercise helps with natural detoxification, blood sugar balance (which can help stabilize hormones), provides a boost in endorphins, helps strengthen your core after giving birth, and so much more. Whether it’s pilates, strength training, cycling, or walking, aim for consistency over rigorous, tough workouts. The point is to enjoy moving your body and ease back into a movement routine.
postpartum book recommendations
While it can be difficult to navigate postpartum hormonal fluctuations, they’re temporary! Wishing you the best of luck and I’m here to support you on your postpartum journey.
Your Baby Your Way by Jennifer Margulis, Nourishing Traditions For Baby and Child Care by Sally Fallon and Safe Infant Sleep by James Makenna
This article contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Wellness with Edie. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and we recommend that you always consult with your healthcare provider.
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